Fantasy Analysis

Cleveland Browns offseason wish list for fantasy

By Curtis Patrick &bullet;
Feb 11, 2018

Dec 31, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon (12) and tight end David Njoku (85) leave the field after playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Steelers beat the Browns 28-24 as they advance to the playoffs, while the Browns finished winless at 0-16. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns went 0-16 in the 2017 season, becoming just the third team in the modern NFL era to finish an entire season winless. As one would expect, the team did not produce many notable fantasy players.

Duke Johnson was the lone dependable fantasy starter, finishing the season as PPR RB11 on the strength of 74 receptions (fourth-most among running backs). Johnson will return in 2018 but early-down backfield running mate, Isaiah Crowell, likely will not. The team has three physically gifted pass-catchers in Josh Gordon, Corey Coleman, and TE David Njoku, but it is unknown who will be throwing them ball. The team desperately needs to solve its nearly two-decade-old problem at quarterback if the offense is truly going to unlock its fantasy ceiling in 2018.

Three additions we want to see for fantasy

Kirk Cousins, QB: The Browns own two first-round picks (Nos. 1 and 4 overall), so the natural tendency is to want to pull the trigger on a quarterback in the draft. However, the Browns have a staggering $30 million more available in cap space than the next-closest team. They can make Cousins the highest-paid player in NFL history and barely make a dent in the bankroll. For a team that has struggled to solve its quarterback problem for nearly two decades, signing a player with a proven track-record could jump start the franchise.

First- or second-round RB: It’s a domino effect — with Cousins already in hand, the team could then afford to spend an early-round pick on a new backfield partner for Duke Johnson.

Jarvis Landry, WR: The Browns have two deep threats on the roster in Coleman and Gordon, but a middle-of-the field chain-mover is very much a need. Cousins enjoyed plenty of success with Jamison Crowder in Washington, a player who in some ways provides the same kind of run-game extension as Landry from the slot. The team has plenty of cap space to make this happen.